Retriever for submerged articles



Jan. 30, 1951 R. c. NORRIS ET AL 2,539,548

RETRIEVER FOR SUBMERGED ARTICLES Filed April 26, 1947 I Raymond C Nor/4s Cha /65 A. Price IN VEN TORS A TTORNE Y Patented Jan. 30, 1951 RETRIEVER FOR SUBMERGED ARTICLES 7 I ltaymond C. Norris and Charles A. Price, Dallas,

Te x., assignors, by direct and mesne assignments, to Galentin, Dallas, Tex.

' jApplication April 26, 1947, Serial No. 744,232

[Claim- This invention relates to devices for retrieving submerged articles.

The principal object of the invention is to p vide a simple attachment for fishermens and hunters equipment by which such equipment, if

accidentally dropped in deep water, may be recovered. Devices designed for this purpose are not broadly new but the invention anticipates a simple and inexpensive and yet an exceptionally effective retrieving device consisting of a cylinder containing a buoyant reel, on which is wound a thread of Nylon or other strong and durable material and which is projected from the cylinder by a spring, whose stored energy is maintained by a seal composed of a water soluble substance.

Another object of the invention is to provide a device for retrieving articles such as rods and reels, tackle boxes, guns and other articles likely to be dropped overboard from boats, rafts, wharfs and the like, which device is light in weight as well as small in dimensions and is so constructed as to insure against fouling of the retrieving line when the buoyant reel on which the line is wound is expelled from the container which is afiixed to the submerged article.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention has particular reference to certain features of accomplishment, to become manifest as the description proceeds, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of a retrieving device constructed according to the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary view of a submerged article, exemplifying the manner in which the article is retrievable by the invention.

Figure 3 is a fragmentary View of a submergible article, showing the retrievable device attached thereto, and

Figure c is an exploded view of a form of clamp by which the device is attached to a submergible article.

Continuing with a more detailed description of the drawing, reference is primarily made to Figure 1 wherein numeral it denotes a cylindrical housing of light metal or water resistant plastic material in which is arranged a coiled spring ll whose inner end is secured to the closed end of the cylinder by a screw 52 or equivalent means. The opposite end of the spring I! is free and bears against one end of a spool or reel l3 constructed either of a material possessing buoyant qualities, such as cork or as a hollow, sealed body.

may also be referred to as a float, is wound a stout cord or thread [4 which is water resistant but necessarily durable, such as Nylon or the like. Obviously, strength and durability in the line I4 is a desideratum because, on the one hand, it

must survive long periods of disuse, yet on the other hand, must be subject to considerable tension should the occasion require that an article to which it is attached be raised to the surface of a body of water in which the article is submerged.

The cord or thread l4, as the case may be is secured at one end to the screw l2 and to the opposite end to the buoyant reel I 3 at I5. The reel is inserted into the open end of the cylinder It to collapse the spring H, storing therein sufiicient energy to eject the same from the cylinder with considerable force, calculated to overcome resistance of water pressure or minor obstructions.

The reel !3 is held in cylinder l0 against the pressure of the spring I I by a cap or seal I6 of gelatin or other suitable material and which, in turn, is secured in place in the end of the cylinder ID by a sleeve H, which is threaded or otherwise secured to the end of the cylinder Ill. It is important to observe the manner in which the cap and retaining sleeve are related to the cylinder ill, to avoid obstructing passage of the reel l3 from the cylinder. The end of the cylinder is counterbored to form an annularrecess l8 inwhich the water soluble disc I6 is seated. The sleeve I! has an internal annular flange l9 which overlies the perimeter of the disc I6, holding the latter in its seat. The sleeve ll may be secured to the cylinder It in any manner, but preferably threaded, as shown, so that the device may be reloaded and reused.

In Figure 4 is shown a form of clamp for the device, the same consisting of complementary members 2!! adapted to be secured by means of a bolt and nut 2| and 22 respectively, on each side of a cylindrical object such as the barrel 23 About the reduced waist of the reel 13, which of a gun 2 1. It is apparent that other means of securement to an article likely to be lost in water may be substituted for that shown, depending upon the design and shape of the article.

Should an article be accidentally dropped overboard in water, it is necessary only to wait a period of time sufficient to allow the cap or disc it to dissolve or become sufficiently pliable as to yield to the pressure of the spring ll, permitting the latter to expel the reel l5 from the cylinder Ill. Upon escaping from the cylinder, the reel 13, being buoyant, rises to the surface 3 of the water in which the article is submerged when the buoyant reel surfaces, one has only to raise the submerged article by means of the cord or thread [4.

It is a simple matter to rewind the thread onto the reel, reinstate the same in the cylinder and place a new soluble cap it under the flange IQ of the retaining sleeve, to renew the retrieving device for further use.

Manifestly, the construction as shown and described is capable of some modification and such modification as may be construed to fall within the scope and meaning of the appended claim is also considered to be within the spirit and intent of the invention.

What is claimed is:

A retrieving device for an article submerged in water, comprising a cylinder of equal diameter throughout its length adapted to be affixed to said article and having a closed and an open end, the latter provided with an annular recess, a coil spring in said cylinder and afiixed at one end to the closed end of the cylinder, a buoyant reel also in said cylinder against one end at which is engaged the opposite end of said spring, a Water 25 mber repellant cord wound on said reel, said cord having one end afiixed to the closed end of said cylinder, a water soluble cap disposed in the recess in the open end of said cylinder and a sleeve threadedly retained on the open end of said cylinder having an annular flange in retentive engagement with the perimeter of said water soluble cap to hold said coil spring under compression through said cap and reel, said flange having an inner diameter equal to that of said cylinder to pass said reel under pressure of said spring upon dissolution of said cap.

RAYMOND C. NORRIS.

CHARLES A. PRICE.

REFERENCES CITED Thefollowing references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 806,730 Zoll Dec. 5, 1905 2,190,531 Kaboskeyet a1. Feb. 13, 1940 2,419,162 Pope Apr 15, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS ountry Date 19,824 Great Britain Nov. 3, 1892 

